"We don't have to be fearful about coming into the store"

Sunday 11 November 2018

The mother of a three-year-old boy, who is on the autistic spectrum, has welcomed the permanent introduction of a scheme she says will allow her to go shopping with her son with "peace of mind."

The 'Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme' is now available across all of the Co-op stores in Jersey and Guernsey.

The trial scheme was launched earlier this year to help raise awareness amongst Co-op colleagues of the diverse and unseen disabilities they may come across, including dementia, people with hearing loss, the visually impaired and those with learning difficulties. 

Customers with hidden disabilities sometimes need more time to process information or prepare themselves in what can feel like an overwhelming, unfamiliar environment. They can struggle when they have difficulty in following verbal instructions, using technology, or interpreting body language and facial expressions.

Co-op staff received training about the challenges for those customers, so that they could respond in a way that benefits the customer and makes their experience as easy and comfortable as possible. As part of the scheme, islanders with hidden disabilities have the option to wear a sunflower lanyard or pin badge, which says ‘I may need support'.

Kerry Marques, a mum of four, used the Sunflower Scheme when taking her three-year-old son Luis, who is on the autistic spectrum, out shopping. She says she has found it a great help.

She commented: "The scheme has helped massively. It’s comforting to know we are able to come shopping with peace of mind. The Co-op staff are absolutely amazing and are more than happy to help.

"The reassurance is there that we don't have to be fearful about coming into the store. We use the sunflower lanyard on a rucksack and we pop it at the end of the trolley to make it visible. The lanyards have a soft, silky texture to them, which is very sensory and good for Luis as he will sit and play with it.’

Ms Marques said her whole family was grateful to the Co-op for the scheme as it has raised awareness and encouraged people to show empathy towards islanders with hidden disabilities. "The service makes life so much easier now for us to come shopping," she added.

The Co-op is continuing to run training sessions for its staff. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme is part of the Society’s disability and inclusion strategy, which aims to change attitudes and improve the quality of life for disabled islanders and their carers.

Tanya Dorrity, Co-op Community Officer, said: "We are delighted with the feedback we have received from service users of our Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme.

"As a community retailer, hearing such positive feedback from our customers, like Kerry, proves why this scheme is so important and is just one of the reasons why we wanted to make it a permanent service."